Locating files using a durable and universal file identifier

ABSTRACT

Files can be located using a durable and universal file identifier. A content URI includes a file protocol URI specifying a path to a file. The file protocol URI includes a query string specifying properties of the file that can be utilized to locate the file, such as an object ID property specifying a GUID for the file and a volume ID property specifying a GUID for a storage volume storing the file. The content URI can be utilized to locate the file using the file protocol URI and its associated query string even if the file has been moved, renamed, or is accessed on a different computing device. Operations can then be performed using the file, such as resuming a previously performed activity that used the file.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/919,015 filed Mar. 12, 2018, entitled “Locating Files Using A Durableand Universal File Identifier,” which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Modern computing devices enable users to perform a seemingly endlessvariety of activities. As a result, users of such computing devicescommonly engage in many different types of activities on a daily basis,such as performing productivity activities like creating documents inword processing applications, engaging in creative activities likeediting photos, and enjoying entertainment activities like watchingstreaming movies.

Due to the large number of activities computing users engage in, it canbe difficult for users to later resume those activities, particularlywhen the activities were performed a long time in the past. As a result,users commonly perform searches to locate files related topreviously-performed activities to resume those activities. For example,a user might search for a word processing file that they previouslyedited to resume editing of the file. Searching for files relating topreviously-performed activities in this manner can, however, utilizesignificant computing resources, such as processor cycles and memory.

In order to address the problem described above, some computing devicesprovide mechanisms for allowing users to quickly access previously-usedfiles. For example, some computing devices provide a recently-used filelist that identifies some of the files recently accessed by a user. Whena file identified in a recently-used file list is selected, theapplication associated with the file is executed and the file is opened.Some mechanisms for accessing previously-used files, like recently-usedfile lists, include entries corresponding to files accessed on multipledevices associated with the same user.

Mechanisms for accessing recently used files do not, however, work inmany scenarios. For example, it might not be possible to identify thelocation of a file identified in a recently-used file list if the filehas been renamed or moved since it was last accessed. This problem canbe exacerbated in scenarios where a recently-used file list identifiesfiles that have been accessed on multiple user devices. For example, ifa user selects a file in a recently-used file list that was accessed onanother of their computing devices, it might not be possible to locatethe file if it is stored in a different location on each device. Thismight occur, for instance, if the file is synchronized between thedevices, but stored in a different location on each device, or if thefile is on removable media that is assigned a different driver letter oneach device.

Because mechanisms for accessing previously-used files do not work inmany scenarios, users often resort to searching for previously-usedfiles to resume previous activities. This can include, for example,performing a text search for a file used previously, or browsing for thefile using a graphical user interface (“GUI”). In either case, and asmentioned above, searching or browsing for files related to previousactivities in this manner can utilize significant computing resources,such as processor cycles and memory. This can also be extremelyfrustrating for computer users.

In a related scenario, a user might receive a traditional hyperlink fromanother user. The file referenced by the hyperlink might, however, berenamed or moved after the creation of the hyperlink. The hyperlink,therefore, will not be usable for accessing the referenced file. Thiscan also be frustrating for users and cause them to search for thereferenced file in the ways described above, thereby unnecessarilyutilizing computing resources, such as processor, memory, and networkbandwidth.

It is with respect to these and other technical challenges that thedisclosure made herein is presented.

SUMMARY

Technologies are described herein for locating files using a durable anduniversal file identifier. Through an implementation of the technologiesdisclosed herein, users can quickly locate files, even if the files havebeen moved or renamed. This mechanism can reduce or eliminate the needfor users to search or browse for files in scenarios such as thosedescribed above and, as a result, can improve the performance ofcomputing devices implementing the disclosed technologies by reducingthe use of computing resources, such as processor cycles and memory.Other technical benefits not specifically mentioned herein can also berealized through implementations of the disclosed subject matter.

In order to realize the technical benefits mentioned briefly above, acomputing device is provided that is configured to generate a contentuniform resource identifier (“URI”). The content URI includes data thatcan be utilized to locate a file even if the file has been renamed ormoved. In particular, the content URI includes a file protocol URIspecifying a path to a file on a computing system. The content URI canalternately specify a URI provided by a synchronization service thatidentifies the file at the synchronization service. The content URI alsoincludes a query string including parameters that can be utilized tolocate the file if the file has been moved or renamed.

In one embodiment, the query string for the file protocol URI includesan object identifier (“ID”) property specifying a globally uniqueidentifier (“GUID”) or other type of unique identifier for the filereferenced by the file protocol URI. The GUID might, for example, beassigned and maintained by an operating system. Other types ofidentifiers that uniquely identify a file can be used in otherembodiments.

The query string of the content URI also includes a “known folder”property in some embodiments. The known folder property indicates if thefile referenced by the file protocol URI is stored in a known folder. Aknown folder represents a symbolic link to a well-known location thatmay be located in distinct locations across operating systeminstallations. In an installation of the MICROSOFT WINDOWS operatingsystem, for example, known folders might include the desktop, documents,downloads, and pictures folders. Other operating systems might utilizeother known folders.

The query string of the file protocol URI can also specify a volume IDproperty specifying a GUID or other type of unique identifier for astorage volume storing the file referenced by the file protocol URI. TheGUID defined by the volume ID property might also be assigned andmaintained by an operating system. It is to be appreciated that theparameters of the query string described above are merely illustrativeand that the query string of the content URI can include otherparameters that can be utilized to locate a file in other embodiments.For example, and without limitation, the parameters can include one ormore other properties of a file, one or more properties associated witha file by a file system, or secondary metadata for the file obtainedfrom another source.

The content URI disclosed herein can be transmitted between computersand used similarly to a hyperlink to locate and access files. Asdiscussed above, however, the disclosed content URI and associatedcomputing systems provide additional functionality not possible with atraditional hyperlink, namely to enable files to be located even whenthe files have been moved or renamed.

In one particular embodiment, for example, a content URI can be used tolocate and access files at a computing device (which might be referredto herein as a “second computing device”) that was utilized during anactivity previously performed on another user computing device (whichmight be referred to herein as a “first computing device”), even if thefiles have been moved or renamed. In order to enable this functionality,an activity data structure is created in some embodiments that can beutilized to resume a previously performed file-based activity. Theactivity data structure includes a content URI, such as that describedabove, and an activation URI.

The activation URI identifies an application that was used to perform anactivity on a file (e.g. a word processing application used to edit afile) and can be utilized to activate the application associated withthe file to resume the activity. As discussed above, the content URIincludes a file protocol URI specifying a path to a file on a computingsystem and a query string that includes parameters that can be utilizedto locate the file, even if the file has been moved or renamed. Thecontent URI can be included in the activation URI as a query stringparameter.

In this embodiment, an application, activity monitor, operating systemcomponent, or another component creates an activity data structure foran activity (e.g. editing a file in a word processing application) at oraround the time the activity is performed. For example, and withoutlimitation, an application programming interface (“API”) for creating acontent URI for a file is provided in one embodiment. The API canreceive a request to create a content URI, such as from the applicationused to perform an activity. The request can specify a path to the fileon a storage volume upon which the file is located.

In response to receiving such a request, the API locates propertiesassociated with the file that can be utilized to locate the file if itis renamed or moved. For example, the API can locate an object IDproperty for the file that includes a GUID or other type of uniqueidentifier for the file. The API can also locate a volume ID propertyspecifying a GUID or other type of unique identifier for the storagevolume upon which the file is stored. In some embodiments, the API canalso determine if the file is stored in a known folder. The API canlocate other properties that can be used to locate the file in otherembodiments.

In scenarios where a file is stored in a location that is synchronizedby a file synchronization service (e.g. the ONEDRIVE or DROPBOXsynchronization services), the API can provide the local file path tothe synchronization service. In response thereto, the synchronizationservice can locate its internal path to the file, such as a fullyqualified HTTP URI to the file on the synchronization service andprovide the path to the API. The synchronization service might alsoprovide its unique identifier for the file. The API then stores theinternal path and ID used by the synchronization service in the contentURI. As will be described in greater detail below, the path and ID forthe file used by the synchronization service can later be used to obtainthe local path of the file on a computing device from thesynchronization service.

Once the API has obtained at least some the properties described above,the API can create the content URI for the file. As discussed above, thecontent URI includes the file protocol URI or a synchronization servicepath to the file. As also discussed above, the file protocol URIincludes a query string that can include the object ID property, thevolume ID property, or a known folder property. The query string caninclude alternate or additional properties of a file that can beutilized to locate the file even if it has been renamed or moved inother embodiments. It is to be appreciated that while an API is used insome embodiments to create the content URI, other components, such as anapplication, can create the content URI in other embodiments.

Once the content URI has been created, the API can then return thecontent URI in response to the request received at the API. For example,the API might return the content URI to the application used to performthe activity. As will be discussed in detail below, the content URI canthen be used to locate the file at a computing device (e.g. if the filehas moved or been renamed). An activity that utilized the file can thenbe resumed in some embodiments.

Once an activity data structure has been created, portions of theactivity data structure are then exposed to users through a UI in someembodiments. For example, a UI can be presented that includes UIcontrols generated from activity data structures, such as thumbnailimages and/or text, that correspond to activities previously engaged inby a user. The UI controls can, for instance, identify the applicationand the file used during an activity. UI controls for activitiesperformed on each of a user's computing devices can also be presented bysynchronizing the activity data structures describing the user'sactivities between devices.

Selection of one of the UI controls (e.g. a thumbnail image) in the UIby a user will resume the previous activity using the associatedactivity data structure. For example, a word processing applicationmight be executed and provided with a file that was edited during theactivity. As another example, a web browser application might beexecuted, and a web page previously visited by a user might be loaded.Other types of UIs for resuming previously performed activities can beutilized in other embodiments.

In order to identify a file associated with an activity, an operatingsystem provides an API in some embodiments. In these embodiments, anapplication or another component can provide a request to the API forthe location of a file associated with a previous activity. The requestcan include the content URI for the file.

When the API receives such a request, it can utilize the content URI tolocate the file, even if the file has been renamed, moved orsynchronized to a computing device other than the device upon which theactivity was performed. For example, the API can utilize the fileprotocol URI contained in the content URI to determine if the file isaccessible at its original path (i.e. the path specified by the fileprotocol URI). This can be used, for example, to locate a file on acomputing device that is in the same location as it was when the contentURI was created. In this manner, the file protocol URI can be utilizedto locate the file without reference to the properties set forth in thequery string of the file protocol URI.

The API can also use the GUID or other type of unique identifier storedin the volume ID property of the content URI to determine if a file islocated on a storage volume that was originally accessible at a firstcomputing device, but which is later accessed at a second computingdevice. For instance, a removable storage device might store a file thatis accessed on one computing device and then later accessed on anothercomputing device. The removable storage device might, however, beassigned a different drive letter on the second computing device and,therefore, the path of the file will change. In order to locate a filein this scenario, the API determines whether a storage volume isavailable that has a GUID matching the GUID in the content URI and, ifso, searches the storage volume for the file. The API can also utilizethe known folder property of the content URI to determine if the filewas stored in a known folder on a first computing device and, if so,determine if the file is also stored in the same known folder on asecond computing device.

The API can also locate files that have been synchronized betweencomputing devices (e.g. using a synchronization service like ONEDRIVE orDROPBOX), but that are located at a different path on each computingdevice. In order to provide this functionality, the API determineswhether the content URI indicates that the file is stored in a locationthat is synchronized between devices by a synchronization service. Forexample, the API might determine if the content URI includes a URI tothe file at the synchronization service or other data indicating thatthe file is stored by the synchronization service. If the file is storedin a synchronized location, the API can provide the path and ID used bythe synchronization service to identify the file in the content URI tothe synchronization service and, in return, receive data identifying thelocal file path of the file.

If the API successfully locates the file, the API can provide dataidentifying the location of the file responsive to the original request.The file can then be accessed at the identified location. For instance,the application identified in the activation URI can be activated (e.g.executed if not already executing), and the application can access thefile at the location determined by the API. If the API does not locatethe file, operations can be performed to mitigate the inability tolocate the file and resume the activity such as, for example, providinga UI to the user prompting the user to manually locate the file, orprompting the user to install a client for a synchronization service(e.g. in the case where the file is stored in a synchronized location,but the synchronization client is not installed on the second computingdevice).

As discussed briefly above, implementations of the technologiesdisclosed herein, can reduce the utilization of processor cycles,memory, and potentially other types of computing resources. Othertechnical benefits not specifically identified herein can also berealized through implementations of the disclosed technologies. Thesetechnical benefits can also result in benefits to users of computingdevices that implement the disclosed technologies by reducing thefrustration sometimes experienced by users when attempting to locatefiles.

It should be appreciated that the above-described subject matter can beimplemented as a computer-controlled apparatus, a computer-implementedmethod, a computing device, or as an article of manufacture such as acomputer readable medium. These and various other features will beapparent from a reading of the following Detailed Description and areview of the associated drawings.

This Summary is provided to introduce a brief description of someaspects of the disclosed technologies in a simplified form that arefurther described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is notintended to identify key features or essential features of the claimedsubject matter, nor is it intended that this Summary be used to limitthe scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimedsubject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or alldisadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a computer system architecture diagram showing aspects of asystem for locating files using a durable and universal file identifier,according to one embodiment;

FIG. 1B is a flow diagram showing a routine that illustrates aspects ofthe operation of the computing devices shown in FIG. 1A for locatingfiles using a durable and universal file identifier, according to oneembodiment disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 is a data structure diagram showing an illustrative configurationfor an activity data structure and a content URI, according oneembodiment disclosed herein;

FIG. 3A is a software architecture diagram showing aspects of theoperation of the computing devices shown in FIG. 1A for creating anactivity data structure that includes a content URI for a file stored ina non-synchronized location, according to one embodiment disclosedherein;

FIG. 3B is a software architecture diagram showing aspects of theoperation of the computing devices shown in FIG. 1A for creating anactivity data structure that includes a content URI for a file stored ina synchronized location, according to one embodiment disclosed herein;

FIG. 3C is a software architecture diagram showing aspects of theoperation of the computing devices shown in FIG. 1A for identifying thelocal path of a file stored in a synchronized location, according to oneembodiment disclosed herein;

FIG. 3D is a software architecture diagram showing aspects of theoperation of the computing devices shown in FIG. 1A for creating anactivity data structure that includes a content URI for an applicationusing an activity monitor, according to one embodiment disclosed herein;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are flow diagrams showing a routine that illustratesaspects of the operation of the computing devices shown in FIG. 1A fordetermining the location of a file at a computing device using a fileprotocol URI contained in a content URI, according to one embodimentdisclosed herein;

FIG. 5 is a computer architecture diagram showing an illustrativecomputer hardware and software architecture for a computing device, suchas the computing devices shown in FIG. 1A, that can implement aspects ofthe technologies presented herein;

FIG. 6 is a network diagram illustrating a distributed computingenvironment capable of implementing aspects of the technologiespresented herein; and

FIG. 7 is a computer architecture diagram illustrating a computingdevice architecture for a computing device, such as the computingdevices shown in FIG. 1A, that is capable of implementing aspects of thetechnologies presented herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is directed to technologies forlocating files using a durable and universal file identifier. Asdiscussed briefly above, implementations of the technologies disclosedherein can reduce the utilization of processor cycles, memory, and othercomputing resources by reducing or eliminating the need for users tosearch or browse for files. Other technical benefits not specificallyidentified herein might also be realized through an implementation ofthe disclosed technologies.

While the subject matter described herein is presented in the generalcontext of program modules that execute in conjunction with theexecution of an operating system and application programs on a computersystem, those skilled in the art will recognize that otherimplementations can be performed in combination with other types ofprogram modules. Generally, program modules include routines, programs,components, data structures, and other types of structures that performparticular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the subject matterdescribed herein can be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, computing orprocessing systems embedded in devices (such as wearables, automobiles,home automation etc.), minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like.

In the following detailed description, references are made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and which are shown byway of illustration specific configurations or examples. Referring nowto the drawings, in which like numerals represent like elementsthroughout the several FIGS., aspects of various technologies forlocating files using a durable and universal file identifier will bedescribed.

Prior to discussing the FIGS., it is to be noted that various componentsin the configurations described below might collect and utilize datadescribing user activity taking place on a computing device. In theseembodiments, users are explicitly informed of the type of data that willbe collected. Users may also be required to expressly consent to thecollection of such data following a disclosure of the data collectionand prior to the actual data collection taking place. Moreover, nopersonally identifiable information is collected from users in theseembodiments.

FIG. 1A is a computer system architecture diagram showing aspects of asystem for locating files using a durable and universal file identifier,according to one embodiment. As discussed above, the durable anduniversal file identifier can be utilized to locate a file utilized in apreviously performed computing activity in order to resume the activitysuch as, for instance, on a different computing device. In this regard,it is to be appreciated that while the embodiments disclosed herein areutilized to illustrate the use of a content URI to resume a previouslyperformed activity, the disclosure presented herein is not limited tothis embodiment. Rather, the content URI disclosed herein can beutilized to locate a file in virtually any scenario, not just when afile is to be utilized to resume an activity. Therefore, the embodimentsdescribed below with regard to the FIGS. are merely illustrative andshould not be seem as limiting the claims to any particular embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, a user 102 can utilize a first computingdevice 104A to execute an application 106. The application 106 can be aword processing application, spreadsheet application, presentationapplication, web browser application, or another type of application.The application 106 can be used to view, create, modify, or performother operations on a file 108. The use of the application 106 to view,create, modify, or perform other operations on a file 108 is referred toherein as a “file-based activity,” or just an “activity.”

As shown in FIG. 1A, the file 108 can be stored on a storage volume 110Alocal to the computing device 104A (e.g. a storage volume on a hard-diskdrive or solid-state drive). The file 108 can also be stored on aremovable storage device 112 (e.g. a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) key)attached to the computing device 104A. The file 108 might also besynchronized with, and stored, at a file synchronization (“sync”)service 114, such as the DROPBOX or ONEDRIVE file synchronizationservices.

The file sync service 114 can synchronize the file 108 between thecomputing device 104A and one or more other computing devices associatedwith the user 102, such as the computing device 104B. The file 108 mightalso be stored in other locations accessible to the computing device104A, such as a network share or in other locations accessible via theInternet or another network 120.

As discussed briefly above and in more detail below, in variousembodiments, a user 102 can perform a file-based activity at a firstcomputing device 104A and resume the activity later on another computingdevice 104B. Using the disclosed technologies, the file 108 needed toresume the activity can be located at the second computing device 104B,even if the file is not in the same location on the second computingdevice 104B as it was on the first computing device 104A at the time theactivity was performed. As also discussed briefly above, this mechanismcan reduce or eliminate the need for a user 102 to search or browse thesecond computing device 104B for previously-used files 108 and, as aresult, can improve the performance of a computing device 104Bimplementing the disclosed technologies by reducing the use of computingresources, such as processor cycles and memory. As also mentioned above,the disclosed technologies can be utilized to locate a file, even if thefile was not used to perform an activity on another computing deviceassociated with a user.

In order to realize the technical benefits mentioned briefly above, andpotentially others, a computing device 104A upon which a file-basedactivity is performed is configured to generate an activity datastructure 116 for use in resuming a previously performed file-basedactivity. Referring momentarily to FIG. 2, aspects of the configurationof the activity data structure 116 in one embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the activity data structure 116 includes, at least,an activation URI 202 and a content URI 204. The activation URI 202identifies an application 106 that was used to perform an activity on afile 108 (e.g. a word processing application used to edit a file). Forexample, the activation URI 202 might identify a protocol associatedwith an application. The activation URI 202 can be utilized to activate(e.g. execute if not already executing) the application 106 associatedwith the file 108 to resume the previously-performed activity.

As discussed briefly above, the content URI 204 includes data that canbe utilized to locate a file 108 even if the file 108 has been renamed,moved, or is accessed on a computing device 104B other than thecomputing device 104A upon which the activity was performed. Inparticular, the content URI 204 includes a file protocol URI 206Aspecifying a path to the file 108 in some embodiments. The file protocolURI 206A is compliant with the RFCs relating to file protocol URIs andcan be utilized independently of the query string described below.

As discussed briefly above, the properties 206B-206C can be expressed asa query string for the file protocol URI 206A. In this manner, thecontent URI 204 can be formatted as a valid protocol URI that iscompatible with RFC 3986 and other RFCs relating to URIs. In thismanner, applications or other components that are not configured toutilize the query string described below can still utilize the fileprotocol URI 206A to locate the referenced file. The activation URI 202can include the content URI 204 as a query string parameter in someembodiments.

The query string of the file protocol URI 206A includes one or moreparameters that can be utilized to perform second-order lookups tolocate the file 108. For example, and without limitation, the querystring can include an object ID property 206B specifying a GUID oranother type of unique identifier corresponding to the file 108. Theobject ID property 206B can include a file ID or another other type ofdata that uniquely identifies or references a file 108. The query stringcan also include a volume ID property 206C specifying a GUID or anothertype of unique identifier for a storage volume 110A storing the file 108at the first computing device 104A.

The content URI 204 can also include a “known folder” property 206D insome embodiments, which indicates if the file 108 is stored in a knownfolder. As discussed briefly above, a known folder represents a symboliclink to a well-known location that may be located in distinct locationsacross operating system installations. In an installation of theMICROSOFT WINDOWS operating system, for example, known folders mightinclude the desktop, documents, downloads, and pictures folders. Otheroperating systems might utilize other known folders. The query stringcan also include other properties 206E or different properties in otherembodiments.

An example content URI 204 is set forth below in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Example Content URIfile:///c:/users/user1/documents/abc123.txt?volumeid={guid}?knownfolder={guid}?objectid={guid}

The query string of the file protocol URI 206A can include otherproperties 206 that can be utilized to locate a file 108. For example,and without limitation, the properties 206 can include one or more otherproperties of a file 108, one or more properties associated with a file108 by a file system, or secondary metadata for the file 108 obtainedfrom another source.

Referring back to FIG. 1A, an application 106, an activity monitor (notshown in FIG. 1A, but described below with regard to FIG. 3D), operatingsystem component such as an API (not shown in FIG. 1A but described indetail below with regard to FIGS. 3A-3E), or another component createsan activity data structure 116 for an activity, typically at or aroundthe time the activity is performed by the user 102. The application 106creating the activity data structure 116 also creates the activation URI202. In order to create the content URI 204, the application 106utilizes the services of an operating system 114—provided API in someembodiments disclosed herein.

For example, and without limitation, the application 106 can submit arequest to create a content URI 204 to the API. The request can includedata, such as a file protocol URI, that specifies a path to the file 108on a storage volume 110A accessible at the first computing device 104A.In response to receiving such a request, the API locates an object IDproperty 206B for the file 108 that includes a GUID or other type ofidentifier corresponding to the file 108.

The API can also locate a volume ID property 206C specifying a GUID orother type of identifier for the storage volume 110A upon which the file108 is stored. In some embodiments, the API can also determine if thefile 108 is stored in a known folder and, if so, create the known folderproperty 206D identifying the known folder in which the file 108 isstored. The values for these properties are maintained by the operatingsystem 114 in some embodiments and obtained by performing aproperty-lookup based upon the file protocol URI 206A. Other properties206E can also be maintained for the file 108 and utilized in the mannerdescribed herein.

Once the API has located the object ID property 206B, the volume IDproperty 206C, the known folder property 206B, or other properties 206E,the API can create the content URI 204 for the file 108. As discussedabove, the content URI 204 includes the file protocol URI 206A and aquery string including the object ID property 206B, the volume IDproperty 206C, and a known folder property 206D identifying a knownfolder if the file 108 is stored in the known folder. The query stringcan include other properties 206E in other embodiments. Additionaldetails regarding this process will be provided below with regard toFIG. 3A.

In scenarios where a file 108 is stored in a location on the firstcomputing device 104A that is synchronized by a file sync service 114(e.g. ONEDRIVE or DROPBOX), the API can provide the local path of thefile 108 to the synchronization service 114. In response thereto, thefile sync service 114 can locate its internal path to the file and anidentifier for the file 108 and provide this information to the API. TheAPI then stores the path to the file 108 and unique ID for the file 108in the content URI 204. As will be described in greater detail below,this information can later be used to obtain the local path of the file108 on a second computing device 104B from the file sync service 114.Additional details regarding this process will be provided below withregard to FIG. 3B.

Once the content URI 204 has been created, the API can then return thecontent URI 204 to the application 106 in response to the requestreceived at the API. As will be discussed in detail below, the contentURI 204 can later be used to locate the file 108 at the computing device104A or at a second computing device 104B.

Once an activity data structure 116 has been created, portions of theactivity data structure 116 are then exposed to users 102 through a UI(not shown in FIG. 1) in some embodiments. For example, a UI can bepresented that includes UI controls generated from activity datastructures 116, such as thumbnail images and/or text, that correspond toactivities previously engaged in by a user 102.

The UI controls can, for instance, identify the application 106 and thefile 108 used during an activity. Selection of one of the UI controls(e.g. a thumbnail image) in the UI by a user 102 will resume theprevious activity using the associated activity data structure 116. Forexample, a word processing application 106 might be executed andprovided with a file 108 that was edited during the activity. Othertypes of UIs for resuming previously performed activities can beutilized in other embodiments.

UI controls corresponding to activities performed on each of a user'scomputing devices, such as the computing devices 104A and 104B in theexample shown in FIG. 1A, can also be presented by synchronizingactivity data structures 116 describing the user's activities betweenthe devices 104A and 104B. In order to provide this functionality, thecomputing devices 104A and 104B can execute an activity datasynchronization module (not shown in FIG. 1A) in some embodiments. Theactivity data synchronization module retrieves the activity datastructures 116 from the computing device 104A and transmits the activitydata structures 116 to an activity data structure sync service 118 overa network 120, like the Internet.

The activity data synchronization service 118 receives the activity datastructures 116 from the computing device 104A and stores the activitydata structures 116 in an appropriate data store. The activity datasynchronization service 118 also receives and stores activity datastructures 116 from other computing devices associated with the sameuser 102, such as the computing device 104B shown in FIG. 1A.

The activity data synchronization service 118 then synchronizes theactivity data structures 116 between all of the computing devices 104associated with the user 102. The computing devices 104A and 104B canthen provide a UI for resuming activities based upon the content of theactivity data structures 116 in the manner described above. Through theuse of such a UI, and the mechanism described below for locating thefile 108, a user 102 can resume previously performed activities on anyof their computing devices 104. As discussed above, the activity datastructure 116 and the content URI 204 can be transmitted to othercomputing systems in other ways in other embodiments. In general, theymay be transmitted in the same way that hyperlinks are currently sharedbetween computing devices.

As discussed above, when a user 102 tries to resume an activity on onecomputing device 104B that was performed on another computing device104A or access a file 108 referenced by a content URI 204 in other ways,the file 108 might not be stored in the same location as it was on thecomputing device 104A. This might occur for various reasons. Forexample, if a file 108 is located on a storage volume 110A that wasoriginally accessible at a first computing device 104A, but which islater inaccessible on a storage volume 110B at a second computing device104B. For instance, a removable storage device 112 might store a file108 that is accessed on one computing device 104A, and then lateraccessed on another computing device 1104B. The removable storage device112 might, however, be assigned a different drive letter on the secondcomputing device 104B and, therefore, the path of the file 108 willchange.

The location of a file 108 might also change on the computing device104B because the location of the file 108 is different on the computingdevice 104B than the synchronized location of the file 108 on thecomputing device 104A. The location of a file 108 might also bedifferent between the computing devices 104A and 104B for other reasonsnot specifically identified herein. The technologies disclosed hereinprovide mechanisms for locating the file 108 at a computing device suchas the second computing device 104B. In this manner, operations can beperformed using the file 108, such as resuming an activity that used thefile on another computing device 104B.

In order to locate a file 108, the operating system 114 executing on thecomputing device 110B provides an API (not shown in FIG. 1A) in someembodiments. In these embodiments, an application 106 or anothercomponent can provide a request to the API for the location of a file108. The request can include the content URI 204 described above for thefile 108.

When the API receives a request for the location of the file 108, it canutilize the content URI 204 to locate the file 108, even if the file 108has been renamed or moved. For example, the API can utilize the fileprotocol URI 206A contained in the content URI 204 to determine if thefile 108 is accessible at its original path (i.e. the path specified bythe file protocol URI 206A) on the second computing device 104B. Thiscan be used, for example, to locate a file 108 that is in the locationspecified by the file protocol URI 206A. As mentioned above, the fileprotocol URI 206A can be utilized by any computing system to locate afile 108, even applications that are not configured to utilize theparameters set forth in the query string of the file protocol URI 206A.

The API can also use the GUID stored in the volume ID property 206C ofthe content URI 204 to determine if a file 108 is located on a storagevolume 110 that was originally accessible at a first computing device104A, but which is later accessed at a second computing device 104B. Asdiscussed above, this might occur when a removable storage device 112 isassigned a different drive letter on the second computing device 104B.In order to locate a file in this scenario, the API determines whether astorage volume 110 having a GUID matching the GUID in the volume IDproperty 206C of the content URI 204 and, if so, searches that storagevolume 110 for the file 108. The API can also utilize the known folderproperty 206D of the content URI 204 to determine if the file 108 wasstored in a known folder on the first computing device 104A and, if so,determine if the file 108 is also stored in the same known folder on thesecond computing device 104B. The API can also utilize other properties206E stored in the query string of the file protocol URI 206A.

The API can also locate files 108 that have been synchronized betweencomputing devices 104A and 104B (e.g. using a synchronization servicelike ONEDRIVE or DROPBOX), but that are located at a different path oneach computing device 104. In order to provide this functionality, theAPI determines whether the file 108 is stored in a location that issynchronized between devices 104 by the file sync service 114. If thefile 108 is stored in a synchronized location, the API can provide thepath to the file 108 utilized by the file sync service 114 to the filesync service 114 and, in return, receive data identifying the local pathof the file 108 on the second computing device 104B. Additional detailsregarding this process will be provided below with regard to FIG. 3C.

If the API successfully locates the file 108, the API can provide dataidentifying the local path of the file 108, for example at the secondcomputing device 104B, responsive to the original request. The file 108can then be accessed at the identified location. For instance, theapplication 106 identified in the activation URI 202 can be activated(e.g. executed if not already executing on the computing device 104B),and the application 106 can access the file 108 at the locationdetermined by the API.

If the API does not locate the file 108, the computing device 104B canperform operations to mitigate its inability to resume the activity suchas, for example, providing a UI to the user 102 prompting the user 102to manually locate the file, or prompting the user to install a clientfor the file sync service 114 (e.g. in the case where the file 108 isstored in a synchronized location but a synchronization client is notinstalled on the computing device 104B). Additional details regardingthese processes are provided below with regard to FIGS. 1B-4B.

FIG. 1B is a flow diagram showing a routine 150 that illustrates aspectsof the operation of the computing devices 104 shown in FIG. 1A forlocating files using a durable and universal file identifier, accordingto an embodiment disclosed herein. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B,the identified location of the file 108 is determined and utilized toresume a previously performed activity. It is to be appreciated,however, that the same mechanism can be utilized to locate a file 108for use in other ways in other implementations.

It should be appreciated that the logical operations described hereinwith regard to FIG. 1B, and the other FIGS., can be implemented (1) as asequence of computer implemented acts or program modules running on acomputing device and/or (2) as interconnected machine logic circuits orcircuit modules within the computing device. The particularimplementation of the technologies disclosed herein is a matter ofchoice dependent on the performance and other requirements of thecomputing device. Accordingly, the logical operations described hereinare referred to variously as states, operations, structural devices,acts, or modules. These states, operations, structural devices, acts andmodules can be implemented in software, in firmware, in special purposedigital logic, and any combination thereof. It should also beappreciated that more or fewer operations can be performed than shown inthe FIGS. and described herein. These operations can also be performedin a different order than those described herein.

The routine 150 begins at operation 152, where an application 106requests a content URI 204 for a file 108. As discussed above, theapplication 106 can request the content URI 204 from an operatingsystem-provided API in some embodiments. The application 106 itself cancreate the content URI 204 in other embodiments. Components other thanthe API or the application 106 can create the content URI 204 in otherembodiments.

From operation 152, the routine 150 proceeds to operation 154, where theAPI or other component creates the requested content URI 204. Additionaldetails regarding one mechanism for creating the content URI 204 will bedescribed below with regard to FIGS. 3A and 3B. From operation 154, theroutine 150 proceeds to operation 156.

At operation 156, the application 106 creates an activity data structure116 that includes the content URI 204. The application 106 then providesthe activity data structure 116 to the activity data structure syncservice 118. The activity data structure sync service 118 thensynchronizes the activity data structure 116 with other computingdevices associated with the user 102, such as the computing device 104B.The routine 150 then proceeds from operation 156 to operation 158.

At operation 158, the computing devices 104 can present a UI throughwhich the user 102 can make a request to resume a previously-performedactivity. For instance, the user 102 might request to resume an activityon the computing device 104B that was originally performed on thecomputing device 104A. If the user 102 requests to resume apreviously-performed activity, the routine 150 proceeds from operation160 to operation 162.

At operation 162, the API or another component uses the content URI 204in the activity data structure 116 to determine the location of the file108 such as, for instance, on the computing device 104B. Detailsregarding operations for locating the file 108 using the content URI206A will be provided below with regard to FIGS. 4A and 4B. The routine150 then proceeds from operation 162 to operation 164.

At operation 164, the application 106 identified in the activation URI202 is activated (e.g. executed if not already executing). The file 108located using the content URI 204 is then provided to the application atoperation 166. The routine 150 then proceeds from operation 166 tooperation 168, where it ends.

FIG. 3A is a software architecture diagram showing aspects of theoperation of the computing devices 104 shown in FIG. 1A for creating anactivity data structure 116 for a file 108 stored in a non-synchronizedlocation 308 (i.e. a location that is not synchronized by the file syncservice 114), according to one embodiment disclosed herein.

As shown in FIG. 3A, and described briefly above, an application 106utilizes the services of an operating system 114—provided API 304 insome embodiments disclosed herein to generate a content URI 204. Inparticular, the application 106 can submit a request 302 to create acontent URI 204 to the API 304. The request can include a file protocolURI 206A that specifies a path 332 to the file 108 on a storage volume110A accessible at the first computing device 104A.

In response to receiving such the request 302, the API 304 locatesproperties that can be utilized to locate the file 108 for inclusion inthe query string of the file protocol URI 206A. For example, the API 304might locate an object ID property 206B for the file 108 that includes aGUID or other type of unique identifier corresponding to the file 108.The API 304 can also locate a volume ID property 206C specifying a GUIDor another type of unique identifier for the storage volume 110A uponwhich the file 108 is stored. In some embodiments, the API 304 candetermine if the file 108 is stored in a known folder and, if so, createthe known folder property 206D identifying the known folder in which thefile 108 is stored. The values for these properties are maintained bythe operating system 114 in some embodiments and obtained by performinga property-lookup based upon the file protocol URI 206A. Otherproperties 206E of the file 108 that can be utilized to locate the file108 can be obtained in a similar fashion in some embodiments.

Once the API 304 has located the object ID property 206B, the volume IDproperty 206C, the known folder property 206D, and any other properties206E, the API 304 can create the content URI 204 for the file 108. Asdiscussed above, the content URI 204 includes a file protocol URI 206Athat includes a query string specifying one or more of the object IDproperty 206B, the volume ID property 206C, a known folder property206D, or the other properties 206E.

Once the content URI 204 has been created, the API 304 can then returnthe content URI 204 to the application 106 in response to the request302. The application 106 can then create the user activity datastructure 116 using the content URI 204. The content URI 204 can beutilized independently of the user activity data structure 116 in someembodiments. As will be discussed in detail below, the content URI 204can later be used to locate the file 108 at the computing device 104A orat another computing device such as the second computing device 104B toresume an activity that utilized the file 108 or for other purposes.

FIG. 3B is a software architecture diagram showing aspects of theoperation of the computing devices 104 shown in FIG. 1A for creating anactivity data structure 116 for a file 108 stored in a synchronizedlocation 310, according to one embodiment disclosed herein. In thisscenario, the API 304 can provide the local file path 332 to a client314 of the synchronization service 114. For example, and withoutlimitation, the API 304 might provide the file path 332 to asynchronization client 314 executing on the computing device 104 uponwhich the activity is to be resumed.

The sync client 314, in response to the request 302, locates theinternal path 318 of the file 108 used by the file sync service 114. Thepath 318 is a fully qualified HTTP URL assigned to the file 108 by thesync service 114 in some embodiments. The sync client 314 might alsoidentify a unique ID, such as a GUID, assigned to the file 108 by thesync service 114. Other types of identifiers can be utilized in otherembodiments. In some embodiments, the sync client 314 communicates withthe file sync service 114 in order to obtain the path 318 and file ID334 in some embodiments.

In response to receiving the path 318 and the ID 332, the API 304 storesthe path 318 and the ID 332 in the content URI 204. The API 314 thenreturns the content URI 204 to the application 106 in response to therequest 302. As will be described in greater detail below with regard toFIG. 3C, the path 318 and the file ID 334 can later be used to obtainthe local path of the file 108 on a second computing device 104B fromthe file sync service 114.

FIG. 3C is a software architecture diagram showing aspects of theoperation of the computing devices 104 shown in FIG. 1A for identifyingthe location of a file 108 stored in a location 310 that is synchronizedbetween computing devices 104 by the file sync service 114, according toone embodiment disclosed herein. In order to provide this functionality,the application provides a request 320 for the location of the file 108to the API 304 that includes the path 318 for the file 108 and the fileID 334 retrieved from the file sync service 114 in the manner describedabove with regard to FIG. 3B.

In response to receiving the request 320, the API 304 determines basedon the path 318 and ID 334 whether the file 108 is stored in asynchronized location 310. If the file 108 is stored in a synchronizedlocation, the API 304 can provide the path 318 and ID 334 to the filesync client 314 or the file sync service 114 and, in return, receivesdata identifying the local path 332 of the file 108 on the secondcomputing device 104B. The API 304 can then return the local file path322 to the application 106 in response to the request 320.

FIG. 3D is a software architecture diagram showing aspects of theoperation of the computing devices 104 shown in FIG. 1A for creating anactivity data structure 116 including a content URI 204 on behalf of anapplication 106 using an activity monitor 330, according to oneembodiment disclosed herein. In the embodiments described above withregard to FIGS. 3A-3C, the application 106 is configured to generate theactivity data structure 116. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3D,however, the application 106 does not natively provide support forcreating the user activity data structure 116. Rather, anothercomponent, referred to herein as the activity monitor 330, creates theuser activity data structure 116 on behalf of the application 106.

In order to provide this functionality, the activity monitor 330 canmonitor operations performed by the application 106 (e.g. file systemrequests) to identify files 108 utilized by the application 106. Inresponse thereto, the activity monitor 330 can request a content URI 204from the API 304 in the manner described above. The activity monitor 330can then create the user activity data structure 116 on behalf of theapplication 106 using the content URI 204. In this way, activities canbe resumed for even those applications 106 that are not specificallyconfigured to generate user activity data structures 116.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are flow diagrams showing a routine 400 that illustratesaspects of the operation of the computing devices 104 shown in FIG. 1Afor determining the location of a file 108 at a computing device 104using a file protocol URI 206A contained in a content URI 204, accordingto one embodiment disclosed herein. The routine 400 begins at operation402, where a request is received for a path to a file 108. For example,in the embodiments described above, the API 304 receives a file locationrequest 320. If the request includes a content URI 204 including a fileprotocol URI 206A, the routine 400 proceeds from operation 404 tooperation 406.

At operation 406, the API 304 attempts to locate the file 108 at thelocation specified by the file protocol URI 206A in the content URI 204.If the file 108 is located at the path specified by the file protocolURI 206A, the routine 400 proceeds from operation 408 to operation 424,where the file 108 or data identifying the location of the file 108 canbe returned to the application 106. If the file 108 is not located atthe location specified by the file protocol URI 206A, the routine 400proceeds from operation 408 to operation 410.

At operation 410, the API 304 determines, based upon the current path ofthe file 108, whether the file 108 is stored in a synchronized location310. If the file 108 is stored in a synchronized location 310, theroutine 400 proceeds from operation 410 to operation 434. If the file108 is not in a synchronized location 310, the routine 400 proceeds fromoperation 410 to operation 412.

At operation 412, the API 304 can request that the operating system 114search for the file 108 using the object ID property 206B specified inthe query string of the file protocol URI 206A. The routine 400 thenproceeds from operation 412 to operation 414, where the API 304determines whether the operating system 114 was able to locate the file108. If the operating system 114 was able to locate the file 108, theroutine 400 proceeds to operation 424, where the file 108 or dataidentifying the location of the file 108 can be returned to theapplication 106. If the operating system 114 was unable to locate thefile 108, the routine 400 proceeds from operation 414 to operation 416.

At operation 416, the API 304 determines if a storage volume 110 havinga volume ID that is the same as the volume ID property 206C specified inthe query string of the file protocol URI 206A is accessible to thecomputing device 104B. If such a volume is attached to the computingdevice 104B, the routine 400 proceeds to operation 420, where the API304 or the operating system 114 can search the volume for the file 108using the object ID property 206B for the file 108. If the operatingsystem 114 is able to locate the file 108, the routine 400 proceeds tooperation 424, where the file 108 or data identifying the location ofthe file 108 can be returned to the application 106. If the file 108 isnot located on the volume, or if no such volume is attached to thecomputing device 104B, the routine 400 proceeds from operation 422 tooperation 426 (shown in FIG. 4B).

At operation 426, the API 304 determines, based on the known folderproperty 206D in the query string of the file protocol URI 206A, if thefile 108 was stored in a known folder on the computing device 104A. Ifthe file 108 was stored in a known folder, the routine 400 proceeds tooperation 428, where the computing device 104B searches the same knownfolder for the file 108 using the object ID property 206B for the file108. If the file is located, the routine 400 proceeds from operation 430to operation 424, where the file 108 or data identifying the location ofthe file 108 can be returned to the application 106. If a known folderwas not specified in the content URI 204 or if a known folder wasspecified but was not located in the known folder on the computingdevice 104B, the routine 400 proceeds to operation 432.

At operation 432, an error can be provided to the calling application106. Additionally, various types of mitigation operations might beperformed such as, for instance, providing a UI indicating that the file108 could not be located or providing a UI allowing the user to searchfor the file 108. The routine 400 then ends at operation 442.

If, at operation 410, the API 304 determines that the file is stored ina synchronized location 310, the routine 400 proceeds from operation 410to operation 434 (shown in FIG. 4B). At operation 434, the API 304determines whether a sync client 314 is installed on the computingdevice 104B. If not, the routine 400 can proceed from operation 430 tooperation 432, where mitigation operations can be performed such as, forinstance, providing a UI to the user prompting the user to install async client 314.

If the sync client 314 is installed, the routine 400 proceeds fromoperation 434 to operation 436. At operation 432, the API 304 providesthe sync service path and ID for the file 108 to the sync client 314.The sync client 314, in turn, utilizes the sync service path and ID todetermine the local path of the file 108 on the computing device 104B.The sync client 314 returns the local path of the file 108 to the API304 at operation 438.

From operation 438, the routine 400 proceeds to operation 440, where theAPI 304 determines if the file 108 is located at the path specified bythe sync client 314. If so, the routine 400 proceeds from operation 440to operation 424, where the file 108 or data identifying the location ofthe file 108 can be returned to the calling application 106. If not, theroutine 400 proceeds from operation 440 to operation 432, wheremitigation operations can be performed such as those described above.Other secondary lookups for the file 108 utilizing the other properties206E contained in the query string of the file protocol URI 206A can beperformed in other embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a computer architecture diagram that shows an architecture fora computer 500 capable of executing the software components describedherein. The architecture illustrated in FIG. 5 is an architecture for aserver computer, mobile phone, an e-reader, a smartphone, a desktopcomputer, a netbook computer, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, oranother type of computing device suitable for executing the softwarecomponents presented herein.

In this regard, it should be appreciated that the computer 500 shown inFIG. 5 can be utilized to implement a computing device capable ofexecuting any of the software components presented herein. For example,and without limitation, the computing architecture described withreference to FIG. 5 can be utilized to implement the computing devices104, illustrated in FIG. 1A and described above, which are capable ofexecuting the operating system 114, the application 106, the OS API 304,the sync client 314, the activity monitor 330, and/or any of the othersoftware components described above.

The computer 500 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a central processingunit 502 (“CPU”), a system memory 504, including a random-access memory506 (“RAM”) and a read-only memory (“ROM”) 508, and a system bus 510that couples the memory 504 to the CPU 502. A basic input/output system(“BIOS” or “firmware”) containing the basic routines that help totransfer information between elements within the computer 500, such asduring startup, is stored in the ROM 508. The computer 500 furtherincludes a mass storage device 512 for storing an operating system 114and one or more programs including, but not limited to, the application106. The mass storage device 512 can also be configured to store othertypes of programs and data such as the activity data structure 116 andthe file 108.

The mass storage device 512 is connected to the CPU 502 through a massstorage controller (not shown) connected to the bus 510. The massstorage device 512 and its associated computer readable media providenon-volatile storage for the computer 500. Although the description ofcomputer readable media contained herein refers to a mass storagedevice, such as a hard disk, CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive, or USB storagekey, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that computerreadable media can be any available computer storage media orcommunication media that can be accessed by the computer 500.

Communication media includes computer readable instructions, datastructures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signalsuch as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes anydelivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that hasone or more of its characteristics changed or set in a manner so as toencode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation,communication media includes wired media such as a wired network ordirect-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radiofrequency, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the any ofthe above should also be included within the scope of computer readablemedia.

By way of example, and not limitation, computer storage media caninclude volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable mediaimplemented in any method or technology for storage of information suchas computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules orother data. For example, computer storage media includes, but is notlimited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solid-statememory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (“DVD”), HD-DVD,BLU-RAY, or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape,magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any othermedium that can be used to store the desired information and which canbe accessed by the computer 500. For purposes of the claims, the phrase“computer storage medium,” and variations thereof, does not includewaves or signals per se or communication media.

According to various configurations, the computer 500 can operate in anetworked environment using logical connections to remote computersthrough a network such as the network 518. The computer 500 can connectto the network 518 through a network interface unit 520 connected to thebus 510. It should be appreciated that the network interface unit 520can also be utilized to connect to other types of networks and remotecomputer systems. The computer 500 can also include an input/outputcontroller 516 for receiving and processing input from a number of otherdevices, including a keyboard, mouse, touch input, or electronic stylus(not shown in FIG. 5). Similarly, the input/output controller 516 canprovide output to a display screen or other type of output device (alsonot shown in FIG. 5).

It should be appreciated that the software components described herein,such as the operating system 114, the application 106, the OS API 304,the sync client 314, and the activity monitor 330, when loaded into theCPU 502 and executed, can transform the CPU 502 and the overall computer500 from a general-purpose computing device into a special-purposecomputing device customized to facilitate the functionality presentedherein. The CPU 502 can be constructed from any number of transistors orother discrete circuit elements, which can individually or collectivelyassume any number of states. More specifically, the CPU 502 can operateas a finite-state machine, in response to executable instructionscontained within the software modules disclosed herein. Thesecomputer-executable instructions can transform the CPU 502 by specifyinghow the CPU 502 transitions between states, thereby transforming thetransistors or other discrete hardware elements constituting the CPU502.

Encoding the software modules presented herein can also transform thephysical structure of the computer readable media presented herein. Thespecific transformation of physical structure depends on variousfactors, in different implementations of this description. Examples ofsuch factors include, but are not limited to, the technology used toimplement the computer readable media, whether the computer readablemedia is characterized as primary or secondary storage, and the like.For example, if the computer readable media is implemented assemiconductor-based memory, the software disclosed herein can be encodedon the computer readable media by transforming the physical state of thesemiconductor memory. For instance, the software can transform the stateof transistors, capacitors, or other discrete circuit elementsconstituting the semiconductor memory. The software can also transformthe physical state of such components in order to store data thereupon.

As another example, the computer readable media disclosed herein can beimplemented using magnetic or optical technology. In suchimplementations, the software presented herein can transform thephysical state of magnetic or optical media, when the software isencoded therein. These transformations can include altering the magneticcharacteristics of particular locations within given magnetic media.These transformations can also include altering the physical features orcharacteristics of particular locations within given optical media, tochange the optical characteristics of those locations. Othertransformations of physical media are possible without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the present description, with the foregoingexamples provided only to facilitate this discussion.

In light of the above, it should be appreciated that many types ofphysical transformations take place in the computer 500 in order tostore and execute the software components presented herein. It alsoshould be appreciated that the architecture shown in FIG. 5 for thecomputer 500, or a similar architecture, can be utilized to implementother types of computing devices, including hand-held computers,embedded computer systems, mobile devices such as smartphones andtablets, and other types of computing devices known to those skilled inthe art. It is also contemplated that the computer 500 might not includeall of the components shown in FIG. 5, can include other components thatare not explicitly shown in FIG. 5, or can utilize an architecturecompletely different than that shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 shows aspects of an illustrative distributed computingenvironment 602 in which the software components described herein can beexecuted. Thus, the distributed computing environment 602 illustrated inFIG. 6 can be used to execute program code, such as the operating system114, the application 106, the OS API 304, the sync client 314, and theactivity monitor 330, capable of providing the functionality describedabove with respect to FIGS. 1A-4B, and/or any of the other softwarecomponents described herein.

According to various implementations, the distributed computingenvironment 602 operates on, in communication with, or as part of anetwork 608. One or more client devices 606A-606N (hereinafter referredto collectively and/or generically as “devices 606”) can communicatewith the distributed computing environment 602 via the network 608and/or other connections (not illustrated in FIG. 6).

In the illustrated configuration, the devices 606 include: a computingdevice 606A such as a laptop computer, a desktop computer, or othercomputing device; a “slate” or tablet computing device (“tabletcomputing device”) 606B; a mobile computing device 606C such as a mobiletelephone, a smartphone, or other mobile computing device; a servercomputer 606D; and/or other devices 606N. It should be understood thatany number of devices 606 can communicate with the distributed computingenvironment 602. Two example computing architectures for the devices 606are illustrated and described herein with reference to FIGS. 5 and 7. Itshould be understood that the illustrated clients 606 and computingarchitectures illustrated and described herein are illustrative andshould not be construed as being limited in any way.

In the illustrated configuration, the distributed computing environment602 includes application servers 604, data storage 610, and one or morenetwork interfaces 612. According to various implementations, thefunctionality of the application servers 604 can be provided by one ormore server computers that are executing as part of, or in communicationwith, the network 608. The application servers 604 can host variousservices such as virtual machines, portals, and/or other resources. Inthe illustrated configuration, the application servers 604 host one ormore virtual machines 614 for hosting applications, such as programcomponents for implementing the operating system 114, the application106, the OS API 304, the sync client 314, the activity monitor 330, orother functionality. It should be understood that this configuration isillustrative and should not be construed as being limiting in any way.The application servers 604 might also host or provide access to one ormore web portals, link pages, websites, and/or other information (“webportals”) 616.

According to various implementations, the application servers 604 alsoinclude one or more mailbox services 618 and one or more messagingservices 620. The mailbox services 618 can include electronic mail(“email”) services. The mailbox services 618 can also include variouspersonal information management (“PIM”) services including, but notlimited to, calendar services, contact management services,collaboration services, and/or other services. The messaging services620 can include, but are not limited to, instant messaging (“IM”)services, chat services, forum services, and/or other communicationservices.

The application servers 604 can also include one or more socialnetworking services 622. The social networking services 622 can providevarious types of social networking services including, but not limitedto, services for sharing or posting status updates, instant messages,links, photos, videos, and/or other information, services for commentingor displaying interest in articles, products, blogs, or other resources,and/or other services. In some configurations, the social networkingservices 622 are provided by or include the FACEBOOK social networkingservice, the LINKEDIN professional networking service, the FOURSQUAREgeographic networking service, and the like. In other configurations,the social networking services 622 are provided by other services,sites, and/or providers that might be referred to as “social networkingproviders.” For example, some websites allow users to interact with oneanother via email, chat services, and/or other means during variousactivities and/or contexts such as reading published articles,commenting on goods or services, publishing, collaboration, gaming, andthe like. Other services are possible and are contemplated.

The social network services 622 can include commenting, blogging, and/ormicroblogging services. Examples of such services include, but are notlimited to, the YELP commenting service, the KUDZU review service, theOFFICETALK enterprise microblogging service, the TWITTER messagingservice, and/or other services. It should be appreciated that the abovelists of services are not exhaustive and that numerous additional and/oralternative social networking services 622 are not mentioned herein forthe sake of brevity. As such, the configurations described above areillustrative, and should not be construed as being limited in any way.

As also shown in FIG. 6, the application servers 604 can also host otherservices, applications, portals, and/or other resources (“otherservices”) 624. These services can include, but are not limited to,streaming video services like the NETFLIX streaming video service andproductivity services such as the GMAIL email service from GOOGLE INC.It thus can be appreciated that activities performed by users of thedistributed computing environment 602 can include various mailbox,messaging, social networking, group conversation, productivity,entertainment, and other types of activities. Use of these services, andothers, can be detected and used to customize the operation of acomputing device utilizing the technologies disclosed herein.

As mentioned above, the distributed computing environment 602 caninclude data storage 610. According to various implementations, thefunctionality of the data storage 610 is provided by one or moredatabases operating on, or in communication with, the network 608. Thefunctionality of the data storage 610 can also be provided by one ormore server computers configured to host data for the distributedcomputing environment 602. The data storage 610 can include, host, orprovide one or more real or virtual datastores 626A-626N (hereinafterreferred to collectively and/or generically as “datastores 626”). Thedatastores 626 are configured to host data used or created by theapplication servers 604 and/or other data.

The distributed computing environment 602 can communicate with, or beaccessed by, the network interfaces 612. The network interfaces 612 caninclude various types of network hardware and software for supportingcommunications between two or more computing devices including, but notlimited to, the devices 606 and the application servers 604. It shouldbe appreciated that the network interfaces 612 can also be utilized toconnect to other types of networks and/or computer systems.

It should be understood that the distributed computing environment 602described herein can implement any aspects of the software elementsdescribed herein with any number of virtual computing resources and/orother distributed computing functionality that can be configured toexecute any aspects of the software components disclosed herein. Itshould also be understood that the devices 606 can also include real orvirtual machines including, but not limited to, server computers, webservers, personal computers, mobile computing devices, smartphones,and/or other devices. As such, various implementations of thetechnologies disclosed herein enable any device configured to access thedistributed computing environment 602 to utilize the functionalitydescribed herein.

Turning now to FIG. 7, an illustrative computing device architecture 700will be described for a computing device, such as the computing devices104, that is capable of executing the various software componentsdescribed herein. The computing device architecture 700 is applicable tocomputing devices that facilitate mobile computing due, in part, to formfactor, wireless connectivity, and/or battery-powered operation. In someconfigurations, the computing devices include, but are not limited to,mobile telephones, tablet devices, slate devices, portable video gamedevices, and the like.

The computing device architecture 700 is also applicable to any of thedevices 606 shown in FIG. 6. Furthermore, aspects of the computingdevice architecture 700 are applicable to traditional desktop computers,portable computers (e.g., laptops, notebooks, ultra-portables, andnetbooks), server computers, and other computer devices, such as thosedescribed herein. For example, the single touch and multi-touch aspectsdisclosed herein below can be applied to desktop, laptop, convertible,or tablet computer devices that utilize a touchscreen or some othertouch-enabled device, such as a touch-enabled track pad or touch-enabledmouse. The computing device architecture 700 can also be utilized toimplement the computing devices 104, and/or other types of computingdevices for implementing or consuming the functionality describedherein.

The computing device architecture 700 illustrated in FIG. 7 includes aprocessor 702, memory components 704, network connectivity components707, sensor components 708, input/output components 710, and powercomponents 712. In the illustrated configuration, the processor 702 isin communication with the memory components 704, the networkconnectivity components 706, the sensor components 708, the input/output(“I/O”) components 710, and the power components 712. Although noconnections are shown between the individual components illustrated inFIG. 7, the components can be connected electrically in order tointeract and carry out device functions. In some configurations, thecomponents are arranged so as to communicate via one or more busses (notshown).

The processor 702 includes one or more CPU cores configured to processdata, execute computer-executable instructions of one or moreapplication programs and to communicate with other components of thecomputing device architecture 700 in order to perform variousfunctionality described herein. The processor 702 can be utilized toexecute aspects of the software components presented herein and,particularly, those that utilize, at least in part, a touch-enabledinput.

In some configurations, the processor 702 includes a graphics processingunit (“GPU”) configured to accelerate operations performed by the CPU,including, but not limited to, operations performed by executinggeneral-purpose scientific and engineering computing applications, aswell as graphics-intensive computing applications such ashigh-resolution video (e.g., 720P, 1080P, 4K, and greater), video games,3D modeling applications, and the like. In some configurations, theprocessor 702 is configured to communicate with a discrete GPU (notshown). In any case, the CPU and GPU can be configured in accordancewith a co-processing CPU/GPU computing model, wherein the sequentialpart of an application executes on the CPU and the computationallyintensive part is accelerated by the GPU.

In some configurations, the processor 702 is, or is included in, asystem-on-chip (“SoC”) along with one or more of the other componentsdescribed herein below. For example, the SoC can include the processor702, a GPU, one or more of the network connectivity components 706, andone or more of the sensor components 708. In some configurations, theprocessor 702 is fabricated, in part, utilizing a package-on-package(“PoP”) integrated circuit packaging technique. Moreover, the processor702 can be a single core or multi-core processor.

The processor 702 can be created in accordance with an ARM architecture,available for license from ARM HOLDINGS of Cambridge, United Kingdom.Alternatively, the processor 702 can be created in accordance with anx86 architecture, such as is available from INTEL CORPORATION ofMountain View, Calif. and others. In some configurations, the processor702 is a SNAPDRAGON SoC, available from QUALCOMM of San Diego, Calif., aTEGRA SoC, available from NVIDIA of Santa Clara, Calif., a HUMMINGBIRDSoC, available from SAMSUNG of Seoul, South Korea, an Open MultimediaApplication Platform (“OMAP”) SoC, available from TEXAS INSTRUMENTS ofDallas, Tex., a customized version of any of the above SoCs, or aproprietary SoC.

The memory components 704 include a RAM 714, a ROM 716, an integratedstorage memory (“integrated storage”) 718, and a removable storagememory (“removable storage”) 720. In some configurations, the RAM 714 ora portion thereof, the ROM 716 or a portion thereof, and/or somecombination of the RAM 714 and the ROM 716 is integrated in theprocessor 702. In some configurations, the ROM 716 is configured tostore a firmware, an operating system or a portion thereof (e.g.,operating system kernel), and/or a bootloader to load an operatingsystem kernel from the integrated storage 718 or the removable storage720.

The integrated storage 718 can include a solid-state memory, a harddisk, or a combination of solid-state memory and a hard disk. Theintegrated storage 718 can be soldered or otherwise connected to a logicboard upon which the processor 702 and other components described hereinmight also be connected. As such, the integrated storage 718 isintegrated in the computing device. The integrated storage 718 can beconfigured to store an operating system or portions thereof, applicationprograms, data, and other software components described herein.

The removable storage 720 can include a solid-state memory, a hard disk,or a combination of solid-state memory and a hard disk. In someconfigurations, the removable storage 720 is provided in lieu of theintegrated storage 718. In other configurations, the removable storage720 is provided as additional optional storage. In some configurations,the removable storage 720 is logically combined with the integratedstorage 718 such that the total available storage is made available andshown to a user as a total combined capacity of the integrated storage718 and the removable storage 720.

The removable storage 720 is configured to be inserted into a removablestorage memory slot (not shown) or other mechanism by which theremovable storage 720 is inserted and secured to facilitate a connectionover which the removable storage 720 can communicate with othercomponents of the computing device, such as the processor 702. Theremovable storage 720 can be embodied in various memory card formatsincluding, but not limited to, PC card, COMPACTFLASH card, memory stick,secure digital (“SD”), miniSD, microSD, universal integrated circuitcard (“UICC”) (e.g., a subscriber identity module (“SIM”) or universalSIM (“USIM”)), a proprietary format, or the like.

It can be understood that one or more of the memory components 704 canstore an operating system. According to various configurations, theoperating system includes, but is not limited to, the WINDOWS operatingsystem from MICROSOFT CORPORATION, the IOS operating system from APPLEINC. of Cupertino, Calif., and ANDROID operating system from GOOGLE INC.of Mountain View, Calif. Other operating systems can also be utilized.

The network connectivity components 706 include a wireless wide areanetwork component (“WWAN component”) 722, a wireless local area networkcomponent (“WLAN component”) 724, and a wireless personal area networkcomponent (“WPAN component”) 726. The network connectivity components706 facilitate communications to and from a network 728, which can be aWWAN, a WLAN, or a WPAN. Although a single network 728 is illustrated,the network connectivity components 706 can facilitate simultaneouscommunication with multiple networks. For example, the networkconnectivity components 706 can facilitate simultaneous communicationswith multiple networks via one or more of a WWAN, a WLAN, or a WPAN.

The network 728 can be a WWAN, such as a mobile telecommunicationsnetwork utilizing one or more mobile telecommunications technologies toprovide voice and/or data services to a computing device utilizing thecomputing device architecture 700 via the WWAN component 722. The mobiletelecommunications technologies can include, but are not limited to,Global System for Mobile communications (“GSM”), Code Division MultipleAccess (“CDMA”) ONE, CDMA2000, Universal Mobile TelecommunicationsSystem (“UMTS”), Long Term Evolution (“LTE”), and WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access (“WiMAX”).

Moreover, the network 728 can utilize various channel access methods(which might or might not be used by the aforementioned standards)including, but not limited to, Time Division Multiple Access (“TDMA”),Frequency Division Multiple Access (“FDMA”), CDMA, wideband CDMA(“W-CDMA”), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (“OFDM”), SpaceDivision Multiple Access (“SDMA”), and the like. Data communications canbe provided using General Packet Radio Service (“GPRS”), Enhanced Datarates for Global Evolution (“EDGE”), the High-Speed Packet Access(“HSPA”) protocol family including High-Speed Downlink Packet Access(“HSDPA”), Enhanced Uplink (“EUL”) or otherwise termed High-Speed UplinkPacket Access (“HSUPA”), Evolved HSPA (“HSPA+”), LTE, and various othercurrent and future wireless data access standards. The network 728 canbe configured to provide voice and/or data communications with anycombination of the above technologies. The network 728 can be configuredor adapted to provide voice and/or data communications in accordancewith future generation technologies.

In some configurations, the WWAN component 722 is configured to providedual-multi-mode connectivity to the network 728. For example, the WWANcomponent 722 can be configured to provide connectivity to the network728, wherein the network 728 provides service via GSM and UMTStechnologies, or via some other combination of technologies.Alternatively, multiple WWAN components 722 can be utilized to performsuch functionality, and/or provide additional functionality to supportother non-compatible technologies (i.e., incapable of being supported bya single WWAN component). The WWAN component 722 can facilitate similarconnectivity to multiple networks (e.g., a UMTS network and an LTEnetwork).

The network 728 can be a WLAN operating in accordance with one or moreInstitute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (“IEEE”) 104.11standards, such as IEEE 104.11a, 104.11b, 104.11g, 104.11n, and/or afuture 104.11 standard (referred to herein collectively as WI-FI). Draft104.11 standards are also contemplated. In some configurations, the WLANis implemented utilizing one or more wireless WI-FI access points. Insome configurations, one or more of the wireless WI-FI access points areanother computing device with connectivity to a WWAN that arefunctioning as a WI-FI hotspot. The WLAN component 724 is configured toconnect to the network 728 via the WI-FI access points. Such connectionscan be secured via various encryption technologies including, but notlimited, WI-FI Protected Access (“WPA”), WPA2, Wired Equivalent Privacy(“WEP”), and the like.

The network 728 can be a WPAN operating in accordance with Infrared DataAssociation (“IrDA”), BLUETOOTH, wireless Universal Serial Bus (“USB”),Z-Wave, ZIGBEE, or some other short-range wireless technology. In someconfigurations, the WPAN component 726 is configured to facilitatecommunications with other devices, such as peripherals, computers, orother computing devices via the WPAN.

The sensor components 708 include a magnetometer 730, an ambient lightsensor 732, a proximity sensor 734, an accelerometer 736, a gyroscope738, and a Global Positioning System sensor (“GPS sensor”) 740. It iscontemplated that other sensors, such as, but not limited to,temperature sensors or shock detection sensors, might also beincorporated in the computing device architecture 700.

The magnetometer 730 is configured to measure the strength and directionof a magnetic field. In some configurations, the magnetometer 730provides measurements to a compass application program stored within oneof the memory components 704 in order to provide a user with accuratedirections in a frame of reference including the cardinal directions,north, south, east, and west. Similar measurements can be provided to anavigation application program that includes a compass component. Otheruses of measurements obtained by the magnetometer 730 are contemplated.

The ambient light sensor 732 is configured to measure ambient light. Insome configurations, the ambient light sensor 732 provides measurementsto an application program stored within one the memory components 704 inorder to automatically adjust the brightness of a display (describedbelow) to compensate for low light and bright light environments. Otheruses of measurements obtained by the ambient light sensor 732 arecontemplated.

The proximity sensor 734 is configured to detect the presence of anobject or thing in proximity to the computing device without directcontact. In some configurations, the proximity sensor 734 detects thepresence of a user's body (e.g., the user's face) and provides thisinformation to an application program stored within one of the memorycomponents 704 that utilizes the proximity information to enable ordisable some functionality of the computing device. For example, atelephone application program can automatically disable a touchscreen(described below) in response to receiving the proximity information sothat the user's face does not inadvertently end a call or enable/disableother functionality within the telephone application program during thecall. Other uses of proximity as detected by the proximity sensor 734are contemplated.

The accelerometer 736 is configured to measure acceleration. In someconfigurations, output from the accelerometer 736 is used by anapplication program as an input mechanism to control some functionalityof the application program. In some configurations, output from theaccelerometer 736 is provided to an application program for use inswitching between landscape and portrait modes, calculating coordinateacceleration, or detecting a fall. Other uses of the accelerometer 736are contemplated.

The gyroscope 738 is configured to measure and maintain orientation. Insome configurations, output from the gyroscope 738 is used by anapplication program as an input mechanism to control some functionalityof the application program. For example, the gyroscope 738 can be usedfor accurate recognition of movement within a 3D environment of a videogame application or some other application. In some configurations, anapplication program utilizes output from the gyroscope 738 and theaccelerometer 736 to enhance user input operations. Other uses of thegyroscope 738 are contemplated.

The GPS sensor 740 is configured to receive signals from GPS satellitesfor use in calculating a location. The location calculated by the GPSsensor 740 can be used by any application program that requires orbenefits from location information. For example, the location calculatedby the GPS sensor 740 can be used with a navigation application programto provide directions from the location to a destination or directionsfrom the destination to the location. Moreover, the GPS sensor 740 canbe used to provide location information to an external location-basedservice, such as E911 service. The GPS sensor 740 can obtain locationinformation generated via WI-FI, WIMAX, and/or cellular triangulationtechniques utilizing one or more of the network connectivity components706 to aid the GPS sensor 740 in obtaining a location fix. The GPSsensor 740 can also be used in Assisted GPS (“A-GPS”) systems.

The I/O components 710 include a display 742, a touchscreen 744, a dataI/O interface component (“data I/O”) 746, an audio I/O interfacecomponent (“audio I/O”) 748, a video I/O interface component (“videoI/O”) 750, and a camera 752. In some configurations, the display 742 andthe touchscreen 744 are combined. In some configurations two or more ofthe data I/O component 746, the audio I/O component 748, and the videoI/O component 750 are combined. The I/O components 710 can includediscrete processors configured to support the various interfacesdescribed below or might include processing functionality built-in tothe processor 702.

The display 742 is an output device configured to present information ina visual form. In particular, the display 742 can present graphical userinterface (“GUI”) elements, text, images, video, notifications, virtualbuttons, virtual keyboards, messaging data, Internet content, devicestatus, time, date, calendar data, preferences, map information,location information, and any other information that is capable of beingpresented in a visual form. In some configurations, the display 742 is aliquid crystal display (“LCD”) utilizing any active or passive matrixtechnology and any backlighting technology (if used). In someconfigurations, the display 742 is an organic light emitting diode(“OLED”) display. Other display types are contemplated.

The touchscreen 744 is an input device configured to detect the presenceand location of a touch. The touchscreen 744 can be a resistivetouchscreen, a capacitive touchscreen, a surface acoustic wavetouchscreen, an infrared touchscreen, an optical imaging touchscreen, adispersive signal touchscreen, an acoustic pulse recognitiontouchscreen, or can utilize any other touchscreen technology. In someconfigurations, the touchscreen 744 is incorporated on top of thedisplay 742 as a transparent layer to enable a user to use one or moretouches to interact with objects or other information presented on thedisplay 742. In other configurations, the touchscreen 744 is a touch padincorporated on a surface of the computing device that does not includethe display 742. For example, the computing device can have atouchscreen incorporated on top of the display 742 and a touch pad on asurface opposite the display 742.

In some configurations, the touchscreen 744 is a single-touchtouchscreen. In other configurations, the touchscreen 744 is amulti-touch touchscreen. In some configurations, the touchscreen 744 isconfigured to detect discrete touches, single touch gestures, and/ormulti-touch gestures. These are collectively referred to herein as“gestures” for convenience. Several gestures will now be described. Itshould be understood that these gestures are illustrative and are notintended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, thedescribed gestures, additional gestures, and/or alternative gestures canbe implemented in software for use with the touchscreen 744. As such, adeveloper can create gestures that are specific to a particularapplication program.

In some configurations, the touchscreen 744 supports a tap gesture inwhich a user taps the touchscreen 744 once on an item presented on thedisplay 742. The tap gesture can be used for various reasons including,but not limited to, opening or launching whatever the user taps, such asa graphical icon. In some configurations, the touchscreen 744 supports adouble tap gesture in which a user taps the touchscreen 744 twice on anitem presented on the display 742. The double tap gesture can be usedfor various reasons including, but not limited to, zooming in or zoomingout in stages. In some configurations, the touchscreen 744 supports atap and hold gesture in which a user taps the touchscreen 744 andmaintains contact for at least a pre-defined time. The tap and holdgesture can be used for various reasons including, but not limited to,opening a context-specific menu.

In some configurations, the touchscreen 744 supports a pan gesture inwhich a user places a finger on the touchscreen 744 and maintainscontact with the touchscreen 744 while moving the finger on thetouchscreen 744. The pan gesture can be used for various reasonsincluding, but not limited to, moving through screens, images, or menusat a controlled rate. Multiple finger pan gestures are alsocontemplated. In some configurations, the touchscreen 744 supports aflick gesture in which a user swipes a finger in the direction the userwants the screen to move. The flick gesture can be used for variousreasons including, but not limited to, scrolling horizontally orvertically through menus or pages. In some configurations, thetouchscreen 744 supports a pinch and stretch gesture in which a usermakes a pinching motion with two fingers (e.g., thumb and forefinger) onthe touchscreen 744 or moves the two fingers apart. The pinch andstretch gesture can be used for various reasons including, but notlimited to, zooming gradually in or out of a web site, map, or picture.

Although the gestures described above have been presented with referenceto the use of one or more fingers for performing the gestures, otherappendages such as toes or objects such as styluses can be used tointeract with the touchscreen 744. As such, the above gestures should beunderstood as being illustrative and should not be construed as beinglimiting in any way.

The data I/O interface component 746 is configured to facilitate inputof data to the computing device and output of data from the computingdevice. In some configurations, the data I/O interface component 746includes a connector configured to provide wired connectivity betweenthe computing device and a computer system, for example, forsynchronization operation purposes. The connector can be a proprietaryconnector or a standardized connector such as USB, micro-USB, mini-USB,USB-C, or the like. In some configurations, the connector is a dockconnector for docking the computing device with another device such as adocking station, audio device (e.g., a digital music player), or videodevice.

The audio I/O interface component 748 is configured to provide audioinput and/or output capabilities to the computing device. In someconfigurations, the audio I/O interface component 748 includes amicrophone configured to collect audio signals. In some configurations,the audio I/O interface component 748 includes a headphone jackconfigured to provide connectivity for headphones or other externalspeakers. In some configurations, the audio interface component 748includes a speaker for the output of audio signals. In someconfigurations, the audio I/O interface component 748 includes anoptical audio cable out.

The video I/O interface component 750 is configured to provide videoinput and/or output capabilities to the computing device. In someconfigurations, the video I/O interface component 750 includes a videoconnector configured to receive video as input from another device(e.g., a video media player such as a DVD or BLU-RAY player) or sendvideo as output to another device (e.g., a monitor, a television, orsome other external display). In some configurations, the video I/Ointerface component 750 includes a High-Definition Multimedia Interface(“HDMI”), mini-HDMI, micro-HDMI, DisplayPort, or proprietary connectorto input/output video content. In some configurations, the video I/Ointerface component 750 or portions thereof is combined with the audioI/O interface component 748 or portions thereof.

The camera 752 can be configured to capture still images and/or video.The camera 752 can utilize a charge coupled device (“CCD”) or acomplementary metal oxide semiconductor (“CMOS”) image sensor to captureimages. In some configurations, the camera 752 includes a flash to aidin taking pictures in low-light environments. Settings for the camera752 can be implemented as hardware or software buttons.

Although not illustrated, one or more hardware buttons can also beincluded in the computing device architecture 700. The hardware buttonscan be used for controlling some operational aspect of the computingdevice. The hardware buttons can be dedicated buttons or multi-usebuttons. The hardware buttons can be mechanical or sensor-based.

The illustrated power components 712 include one or more batteries 754,which can be connected to a battery gauge 756. The batteries 754 can berechargeable or disposable. Rechargeable battery types include, but arenot limited to, lithium polymer, lithium ion, nickel cadmium, and nickelmetal hydride. Each of the batteries 754 can be made of one or morecells.

The battery gauge 756 can be configured to measure battery parameterssuch as current, voltage, and temperature. In some configurations, thebattery gauge 756 is configured to measure the effect of a battery'sdischarge rate, temperature, age and other factors to predict remaininglife within a certain percentage of error. In some configurations, thebattery gauge 756 provides measurements to an application program thatis configured to utilize the measurements to present useful powermanagement data to a user. Power management data can include one or moreof a percentage of battery used, a percentage of battery remaining, abattery condition, a remaining time, a remaining capacity (e.g., in watthours), a current draw, and a voltage.

The power components 712 can also include a power connector (not shown),which can be combined with one or more of the aforementioned I/Ocomponents 710. The power components 712 can interface with an externalpower system or charging equipment via a power I/O component 710. Otherconfigurations can also be utilized.

The disclosure presented herein also encompasses the subject matter setforth in the following clauses:

Clause 1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving a requestfor a location of a file, the request comprising a file protocol URI forthe file having a query string comprising an object identifier (ID)property comprising a unique ID for the file, a volume ID propertycomprising a unique ID for a first storage volume storing the file, or aknown folder property indicating if the file is stored in a knownfolder; responsive to receiving the request, determining whether thefile is stored at the path to the file specified by the file protocolURI; responsive to determining that the file is not stored at the pathto the file specified by the file protocol URI, determining the locationof the file using the object ID property, the volume ID property, or theknown folder property; and providing data identifying the location ofthe file responsive to the request.

Clause 2. The computer-implemented method of clause 1, wherein the querystring further comprises one or more other properties of the file, oneor more properties associated with the file by a file system, orsecondary metadata.

Clause 3. The computer-implemented method of any of clauses 1-2, whereindetermining the location of the file using the object ID propertycomprises searching a second storage volume for the file.

Clause 4. The computer-implemented method of any of clauses 1-3, whereindetermining the location of the file using the volume ID propertycomprises: determining whether a second storage volume having adifferent path than the first storage volume is available that has anassociated unique ID matching the unique ID for the first storagevolume; and responsive to determining the unique ID for the firststorage volume and the unique ID for the second storage volume match,searching the second storage volume for the file.

Clause 5. The computer-implemented method of any of clauses 1-4, whereindetermining the location of the file using the known folder propertycomprises searching one or more known folders for the file.

Clause 6. The computer-implemented method of any of clauses 1-5, whereinthe file protocol is associated with an activation URI, the activationURI comprising a URI for activating an application associated with thefile.

Clause 7. The computer-implemented method of any of clauses 1-6, whereinthe file is accessed by: activating the application associated with thefile using the activation URI; and accessing the file, by way of theapplication, at the identified location of the file.

Clause 8. A computing device, comprising: one or more processors; and atleast one computer storage medium having computer executableinstructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, cause the computing device to receive a request for acontent universal resource identifier (URI) for a file, the requestspecifying a path to the file on a storage volume; and responsive toreceiving the request, locate an object identifier (ID) property for thefile, the object ID property comprising a unique ID corresponding to thefile, locate a volume ID property comprising a unique ID for the storagevolume, determine if the file is stored in a known folder, create thecontent URI for the file, the content URI comprising a file protocol URIfor the file having a query string comprising the object ID property,the volume ID property, or a known folder property identifying the knownfolder if the file is stored in the known folder, and return the contentURI in response to the request, whereby the content URI can be used tolocate the file.

Clause 9. The computing device of clause 8, wherein the query stringfurther comprises one or more other properties of the file, one or moreproperties associated with the file by a file system, or secondarymetadata.

Clause 10. The computing device of any of clauses 8-9, wherein therequest for the content URI is received from an application configuredto store the content URI in an activity data structure with anactivation URI, the activation URI comprising a URI for activating theapplication.

Clause 11. The computing device of any of clauses 8-10, wherein therequest for the content URI is received from an activity monitorconfigured to monitor an application, and wherein the activity monitoris configured to store the content URI in an activity data structurewith an activation URI, the activation URI comprising a URI foractivating the application.

Clause 12. The computing device of any of clauses 8-11, wherein therequest for the content URI is received at an application programminginterface (API).

Clause 13. The computing device of any of clauses 8-12, wherein thecontent URI is encompassed in an activity data structure, the activitydata structure comprising an activation URI identifying an application,wherein the activation URI is utilized to activate the application, andwherein the content URI is utilized to locate the file.

Clause 14. At least one computer storage medium having computerexecutable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one ormore processors of a computing device, cause the computing device to:determine whether a file is located at a path specified by a fileprotocol URI; responsive to determining that the file is not located atthe path specified by the file protocol URI, obtain one or moreparameters from a query string of the file protocol URI, and determine alocation of the file using the parameters from the query string of thefile protocol URI; and cause an access of the file to be made at thedetermined location of the file.

Clause 15. The at least one computer storage medium of clause 14,wherein at least one of the parameters from the query string of the fileprotocol URI comprises a unique identifier (ID) for the file.

Clause 16. The at least one computer storage medium of any of clauses14-15, wherein determining a location of the file using the parametersfrom the query string of the file protocol URI comprises performing asearch for the file based upon the unique ID for the file.

Clause 17. The at least one computer storage medium of any of clauses14-16, wherein at least one of the parameters from the query string ofthe file protocol URI comprises a unique identifier for a first storagevolume storing the file.

Clause 18. The at least one computer storage medium of any of clauses14-17, wherein determining a location of the file using the parametersfrom the query string of the file protocol URI comprises searching asecond storage volume for the file, the second storage volume having thesame unique identifier as the first storage volume.

Clause 19. The at least one computer storage medium of any of clauses14-18, wherein at least one of the parameters from the query string ofthe file protocol URI comprises a known folder property for the filespecifying a known folder on a first computing device in which the fileis stored.

Clause 20. The at least one computer storage medium of any of clauses14-19, wherein determining a location of the file using the parametersfrom the query string of the file protocol URI comprises searching theknown folder for the file on a second computing device.

Based on the foregoing, it should be appreciated that varioustechnologies for locating files using a durable and universal fileidentifier have been disclosed herein. Although the subject matterpresented herein has been described in language specific to computerstructural features, methodological and transformative acts, specificcomputing machinery, and computer readable media, it is to be understoodthat the subject matter set forth in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features, acts, or media describedherein. Rather, the specific features, acts and mediums are disclosed asexample forms of implementing the claimed subject matter.

The subject matter described above is provided by way of illustrationonly and should not be construed as limiting. Various modifications andchanges can be made to the subject matter described herein withoutfollowing the example configurations and applications illustrated anddescribed, and without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure, which is set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:receiving a request for a location of a file, the request comprising afile protocol URI for the file having a query string comprising anobject identifier (ID) property comprising a unique ID for the file, avolume ID property comprising a unique ID for a first storage volumestoring the file, or a known folder property indicating if the file isstored in a known folder; responsive to receiving the request,determining whether the file is stored at the path to the file specifiedby the file protocol URI; responsive to determining that the file is notstored at the path to the file specified by the file protocol URI,determining the location of the file using the object ID property, thevolume ID property, or the known folder property; and providing dataidentifying the location of the file responsive to the request.
 2. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the query string furthercomprises one or more other properties of the file, one or moreproperties associated with the file by a file system, or secondarymetadata.
 3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, whereindetermining the location of the file using the object ID propertycomprises searching a second storage volume for the file.
 4. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the locationof the file using the volume ID property comprises: determining whethera second storage volume having a different path than the first storagevolume is available that has an associated unique ID matching the uniqueID for the first storage volume; and responsive to determining theunique ID for the first storage volume and the unique ID for the secondstorage volume match, searching the second storage volume for the file.5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining thelocation of the file using the known folder property comprises searchingone or more known folders for the file.
 6. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 1, wherein the file protocol is associated with anactivation URI, the activation URI comprising a URI for activating anapplication associated with the file.
 7. The computer-implemented methodof claim 6, wherein the file is accessed by: activating the applicationassociated with the file using the activation URI; and accessing thefile, by way of the application, at the identified location of the file.8. A computing device, comprising: one or more processors; and at leastone computer storage medium having computer executable instructionsstored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe computing device to receive a request for a content universalresource identifier (URI) for a file, the request specifying a path tothe file on a storage volume; and responsive to receiving the request,locate an object identifier (ID) property for the file, the object IDproperty comprising a unique ID corresponding to the file, locate avolume ID property comprising a unique ID for the storage volume,determine if the file is stored in a known folder, create the contentURI for the file, the content URI comprising a file protocol URI for thefile having a query string comprising the object ID property, the volumeID property, or a known folder property identifying the known folder ifthe file is stored in the known folder, and return the content URI inresponse to the request, whereby the content URI can be used to locatethe file.
 9. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the query stringfurther comprises one or more other properties of the file, one or moreproperties associated with the file by a file system, or secondarymetadata.
 10. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the request forthe content URI is received from an application configured to store thecontent URI in an activity data structure with an activation URI, theactivation URI comprising a URI for activating the application.
 11. Thecomputing device of claim 8, wherein the request for the content URI isreceived from an activity monitor configured to monitor an application,and wherein the activity monitor is configured to store the content URIin an activity data structure with an activation URI, the activation URIcomprising a URI for activating the application.
 12. The computingdevice of claim 8, wherein the request for the content URI is receivedat an application programming interface (API).
 13. The computing deviceof claim 8, wherein the content URI is encompassed in an activity datastructure, the activity data structure comprising an activation URIidentifying an application, wherein the activation URI is utilized toactivate the application, and wherein the content URI is utilized tolocate the file.
 14. At least one computer storage medium havingcomputer executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed byone or more processors of a computing device, cause the computing deviceto: determine whether a file is located at a path specified by a fileprotocol URI; responsive to determining that the file is not located atthe path specified by the file protocol URI, obtain one or moreparameters from a query string of the file protocol URI, and determine alocation of the file using the parameters from the query string of thefile protocol URI; and cause an access of the file to be made at thedetermined location of the file.
 15. The at least one computer storagemedium of claim 14, wherein at least one of the parameters from thequery string of the file protocol URI comprises a unique identifier (ID)for the file.
 16. The at least one computer storage medium of claim 15,wherein determining a location of the file using the parameters from thequery string of the file protocol URI comprises performing a search forthe file based upon the unique ID for the file.
 17. The at least onecomputer storage medium of claim 14, wherein at least one of theparameters from the query string of the file protocol URI comprises aunique identifier for a first storage volume storing the file.
 18. Theat least one computer storage medium of claim 17, wherein determining alocation of the file using the parameters from the query string of thefile protocol URI comprises searching a second storage volume for thefile, the second storage volume having the same unique identifier as thefirst storage volume.
 19. The at least one computer storage medium ofclaim 14, wherein at least one of the parameters from the query stringof the file protocol URI comprises a known folder property for the filespecifying a known folder on a first computing device in which the fileis stored.
 20. The at least one computer storage medium of claim 19,wherein determining a location of the file using the parameters from thequery string of the file protocol URI comprises searching the knownfolder for the file on a second computing device.